Music

About Music

As a pioneer in jazz education in Canada, StFX Music is a community where you can expand your creativity as you become a skilled and literate musician in jazz and popular music.

At StFX, you will receive individual attention from some of Canada’s leading music educators in studio, classroom and rehearsal environments, honing your jazz instrumental (or vocal) performance and compositional skills.

Music at X

As a student in the StFX Music Department, you have close contact, including direct face-to-face private sessions, with talented and passionate music faculty. This incredible resource creates community as faculty get to know you and mentor your talents. Additionally, opportunities to perform with faculty members is an ideal way to learn and stretch your horizons.

Peer-to-peer learning with fellow students in performances and practice rooms is another hallmark of the continuous learning environment.

The Visiting Artist Program brings internationally-known performers to campus for clinics, concerts and workshops, giving students exposure to learn from the world’s best jazz musicians.

First Year Music:

As a first year music student, you will focus on the basic structure and theory of music, receive individual lessons, and begin study of the history of and ideas behind jazz and popular music.

For all students, the department additionally offers several innovative, quirky and unusual courses from ‘The Beatles’ to Music for Film, TV, and video games.

Rewarding careers in Music:

StFX graduates record and perform on stages across North America, often working in multiple styles. They work too in music and theatre, with cultural organizations, in educational facilities, and in careers in the entertainment industry. The StFX Music Department successfully places graduates in well-respected graduate programs, and prepares students to perform or teach at a high level.

Flexible degree choices:

As a StFX music student, you can work toward several degree and diploma options. Courses for each are common to all Music major for the first two years.

The Bachelor of Music is for students seeking the most complete artistic education, including courses in composition, ensemble arranging and modern jazz styles.

The Bachelor of Arts degree, with honours, major or advanced major, is for students with a strong interest in music. These degree plans are for students seeking a balanced liberal arts education, or who plan to become music teachers.

The two-year Diploma in Jazz Studies is for students who plan to enter directly into commercial or popular music performance.